Scan barcode
soulofsam's reviews
98 reviews
Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
I liked this one a lot actually!
The first story was not the strongest start but the following ones really grabbed me and I liked how interwoven they were with each other. I enjoyed finding out more about our returning characters, everything about Kazu and getting to know Miki. I think this is a series that can inspire a lot of reflection and more hopeful and positive outlook on life, which is not guaranteed from the premise.
Great book to talk with people about!
The first story was not the strongest start but the following ones really grabbed me and I liked how interwoven they were with each other. I enjoyed finding out more about our returning characters, everything about Kazu and getting to know Miki. I think this is a series that can inspire a lot of reflection and more hopeful and positive outlook on life, which is not guaranteed from the premise.
Great book to talk with people about!
When Tara Met Farah by Tara Pammi
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I wanted to love it more than I did but I also loved it more than I expected after reading reviews.
I am not too fond of spicy novels so this was something not up my alley at all. Luckily the parts outside of it held up and wete enjoyable for me, but I would have loved to see more built up, more details. I think it's a funny, short read for anyone who wants a spicy novella.
I am not too fond of spicy novels so this was something not up my alley at all. Luckily the parts outside of it held up and wete enjoyable for me, but I would have loved to see more built up, more details. I think it's a funny, short read for anyone who wants a spicy novella.
I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff by Abbi Jacobson
emotional
hopeful
reflective
4.25
Abbi is like an older version of me and I loved reading about that. From my expectations I was hoping it would go deeper at some moments but it's so personal, it makes sense it wouldn't. It didn't make me reflect on my own life as much as I thought it would, but that's more my lack of introspectiv at the moment. I can't wait to see what Abbis future hold!
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this immensely. The story was so fun and I liked that we got to see it from everyone's perspective. The division into the first part that included flashbacks to their childhood and the second part just unraveling the party worked very well. All the siblings grabbed my heart, some more some less, and were all such well rounded characters with their own struggles.
While I enjoyed all the additional perspectives of minor characters in the second part, the names were too much for me to keep track of. Maybe having them more easily memorable or less would have been helpful for me.
I also wanted Nina to set the fire somehow, it would have been more symbolic and powerful in my opinion. Mick was not the protagonist of this, the siblings were, so he should not get the moment we have been anticipating the whole book.
Somehow I had convinced myself they would all die at the end and read it like that which made it very interesting. I am glad I actually enjoy the way it turned out, each of them with a new future before them.
I need another novel about Kit!
While I enjoyed all the additional perspectives of minor characters in the second part, the names were too much for me to keep track of. Maybe having them more easily memorable or less would have been helpful for me.
I also wanted Nina to set the fire somehow, it would have been more symbolic and powerful in my opinion. Mick was not the protagonist of this, the siblings were, so he should not get the moment we have been anticipating the whole book.
I need another novel about Kit!
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Well damn.
This made me feel so much and made me fall in love so many times in so many different ways. I loved seeing myself in a book a nonbinary character just there and trans people and queer people juar there, casually.
Ellie and Jack are messed up and flawed and oh so human and their love story is utterly complicated. And I loved every single second of their growth, together and apart. Everyone in this story has so much going on
and really this could be even longer. I loved the addition of the comic bits but it did feel a little unbalanced that they weren't there at the end anymore.
This made me feel so much and made me fall in love so many times in so many different ways. I loved seeing myself in a book a nonbinary character just there and trans people and queer people juar there, casually.
Ellie and Jack are messed up and flawed and oh so human and their love story is utterly complicated. And I loved every single second of their growth, together and apart. Everyone in this story has so much going on
and really this could be even longer. I loved the addition of the comic bits but it did feel a little unbalanced that they weren't there at the end anymore.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
(reread)
So this is not my favourite book I think, but I still had a good time reading it.
In the middle it was quite difficult for me to pick it up and keep reading because it felt like it was dragging on too long somehow. This book having one of the most annoying characters for me also didn't help. I really like the additional bits that aren't in the movie, like the Deathday Party. Something I noticed that I wish they would do more was go into other characters feelings or Harry's perception of other characters (other than Malfoy lol).
So this is not my favourite book I think, but I still had a good time reading it.
In the middle it was quite difficult for me to pick it up and keep reading because it felt like it was dragging on too long somehow. This book having one of the most annoying characters for me also didn't help. I really like the additional bits that aren't in the movie, like the Deathday Party. Something I noticed that I wish they would do more was go into other characters feelings or Harry's perception of other characters (other than Malfoy lol).
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
(reread)
This was a surprisingly fast read, considering the last time I attempted to read it in English I didn't even get half way. It was very fun to see all the changes between the movies and books and some of them were really rather frustrating. I really do feel like this world and these characters will always have a special place in my heart and make me feel at home.
This was a surprisingly fast read, considering the last time I attempted to read it in English I didn't even get half way. It was very fun to see all the changes between the movies and books and some of them were really rather frustrating. I really do feel like this world and these characters will always have a special place in my heart and make me feel at home.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
I liked all of the stories to a different degree but the last one actually made me shed a few tears. It was definitely a fun and uniqu read I would recommend to other people. I enjoyed that the main characters stayed the same throughout and the stories were loosely connected to each other. I liked how it reflected on many different types of relationships and dealt with the most human emotions there are.
Definitely also some things I didn't enjoy as much (Nagares and Kei's relationship irked me sometimes) but overall it didn't take away from the please of reading.
Definitely also some things I didn't enjoy as much (Nagares and Kei's relationship irked me sometimes) but overall it didn't take away from the please of reading.
All the Young Dudes - Book One: Years 1 - 4 by MsKingBean89
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
So this book was a lot.
I enjoyed the story a lot and the way it was told from two different, very different perspectives. I devoured the first 2/3 basically in one sitting and couldn't put it down because the story was so gripping. I like how it centered an experience that many still don't believe to be the reality of fame while also giving the outside perspective. It was fun to see these two world colliding and how truth is not as easy of a concept as it seems.
Sadly the ending of the book last me. While the first part really felt realistic and plausible the end just ventured too far into unrealistic, hopeful fantic territory for me. It broke the kind of illusion of reality that was created before and I couldn't find my way back into it.
I also didn't like that Jimmy at the end changed his mind about leaving the band because it was very obvious he wanted to leave. He could have very well left the band without losing his friends but somehow this was never an option and that I didn't like.
This book gave me several breakdowns and existential crisis about what my own life means. I too am very much into fandoms and have them as a big part of my life, identity and future so having this being ripped apart in the book was very personal. I think the questions the book opened up will stay with me for a while.
I enjoyed the story a lot and the way it was told from two different, very different perspectives. I devoured the first 2/3 basically in one sitting and couldn't put it down because the story was so gripping. I like how it centered an experience that many still don't believe to be the reality of fame while also giving the outside perspective. It was fun to see these two world colliding and how truth is not as easy of a concept as it seems.
Sadly the ending of the book last me. While the first part really felt realistic and plausible the end just ventured too far into unrealistic, hopeful fantic territory for me. It broke the kind of illusion of reality that was created before and I couldn't find my way back into it.
This book gave me several breakdowns and existential crisis about what my own life means. I too am very much into fandoms and have them as a big part of my life, identity and future so having this being ripped apart in the book was very personal. I think the questions the book opened up will stay with me for a while.